Fingertip guard



March 5, 1946. G. M. CAMPBELL FINGERTIP GUARD Filed March 6, 1945 INVENTOR Gladys manna afield ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINGERTIP GUARD Gladys M. Campbell, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Application March 6,1945, Serial No. 581,202

3Claims.- (01. 132-885) This invention relates to a device for use inconnection with the care of the hands and more specifically to a device for assisting in the application of liquids to the nails of the hands.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a deviceof the character described, which will efilciently perform the purposes for which it is intended, which is simple and economical of construction, which can be expeditiously, conveniently and safely manipulated, and which can be readily and economically manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is used when coating the nails and which prevents the coating material from being deposited on the skin and especially on the skin at the tip and adjoining sides of the finger; to provide such a device which is not bulky or cumbersome, and to provide such a device which may consist of a single and very simple piece of material; to provide such a device which, while the coating of paint applied is still wet, may be removed without spoiling the latter; and to provide such a device which by simply turning it around through 180 may be changed from use for the right hand to use for the left hand, and vice versa.

There have been various and sundry mechanisms provided for use'in applying liquids. to finfir ger nails. In many instances they have been so complicated, impractical and unsatisfactory in general that they are not obtainable in the stores.

I have found-that the reason for this fact lies in the too great complication of the earlier devices which all are aiming at protecting the fiesh all around the nail. Thereby, it became necessary to give such devices the shape of closed stencil frames, finger caps, gloves, or the like, which cannot be removed without endangering the paint applied, before such paint is dry.

Some of the earlier devices even have to be attached by means of adhesive.

I have found that all these disadvantages can be avoided, and that it is sufllcient to protect the fiesh at the ends and adjoining sides of nails, where soiling is most inconvenient, provided care is taken to secure firmly the relative position of all fingers of the hand, so as to avoid wobbling during painting.

under the nails, thereby securing firmly the relative positions of said thumb andv fingers and preventing wobbling.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner'in which it may he carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conever, is preferred.

This plate, in the embodiment shown, has the form of a substantially kidney-shaped palette but may have any other suitable form, rectangular, trapezoidal, or the like. The form shown, how- 2 ever, is preferred for combining reliability in use with attractive appearance.

In one edge this plate has four notches b, c, d, j, adapted to receive four fingers of a hand. In the opposite edge said plate has a notch {1 adapted to receive the thumb of said hand.

The use of the new guard will be understood from Figure 2.

One hand, e. g. the left one, is turned so that its palm faces upwards. Thethumb of this hand is bent angularly towards the other fingers and is put into notch g. The other four fingers are bent angularly towards the thumb and are put into the notches b, c, d, f. The edges of said notches engage under the nails thereby protect- 0 ing the flesh of the tips and adjoining sides of the fingers from selling during painting the nails. The pressure-of the thumb against the other fingers and vice versa securely holds the plate in place and also firmly secures all the five fingers in their relative positions thereby preventing any wobbling which might cause soiling.

For enhancing this effect the elbow of that arm, whose hand is to be painted, may be supported on a table top or the like.

The nails of the left hand may now be painted by means of the applicator h, brush or the like, held by the right hand, as shown in Figure 2.

Immediately after painting the left hand the plate a may be removed from said hand before the paint has dried, and may be turned through 180 around an axis lying in the plane of the plate which, thereupon, may be used immediately in painting the nails 01 the right hand by means of the applicator held in the left hand.

The term plate, as used in this specification and claims does not necessarily mean an imperiorate plate.

Periorations may be provided in all zones where no protecting or guarding action is required.

What I claim is:

A device for protecting thefiesh oi the tips and adjoining sides of the fingers against soiling during painting the finger nails, which device consists in a plate having four finger notches in one edge, and a thumb notch in the opposite edge, the positions of said notches corresponding to the positions of the nails of a hand facing withits palm upwards and having its thumb and other fingers bent angularly, all said notches being formed corresponding to the finger tips of a hand and having edges thin enough to engage under the finger nails. k

2. A device forprotecting the flesh of the tips and adjoining sides of the fingers against soiling during painting the finger nails, which device consists in aplate having four finger notches in one edge, and a thumb notch in the opposite edge, the positions of said notches corresponding to the positions of the nails 01 a hand iacing with its palm upwards and having itsthumb and other fingers bent angularly, all said notches being formed corresponding to the finger tips of a hand and saidplate being thin enough to engage under the finger nails.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 consisting in a plate having the form of a substantially kidneyshaped palette with finger notches in one edge and a thumb notch in the opposite edge.

GLADYS M. CAMPBELL. 

